KINGSTON, N.Y. -- A city lawmaker who initially supported proposed changes in snow emergency rules now says he will seek an amendment to remove a provision requiring alternate-side-of-the-street parking once an emergency is declared.

Alderman Robert Senor, who chairs the Common Council's Laws and Rules Committee, said he reversed course because he sees the rule leading to increased overtime costs, particularly during weekend storms.

Senor, D-Ward 8, said if alternate-side parking is required during snow emergencies, it will become difficult for city Department of Public Works employees to pick up trash and recyclable materials in the aftermath of snowstorms.

Public Works Superintendent Michael Schupp said costs may increase slightly at first, as residents get used to the proposed parking plan, but that it ultimately will become a more efficient and less costly way to clear treets of snow.

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Schupp and Mayor Shayne Gallo strongly support the new rule. Both say it will give relief to residents who cannot find parking space in municipal lots or make other plans to get their parked vehicles off roads, which is the current requirement in snow emergencies.

The proposed plan would require that residents on side streets move their vehicles to the odd-numbered side of the street and can keep them there for a 24-hour period. Once that period is up, they must to move the vehicles to the other side.

Senor said overtime costs will increase under the proposal because, instead of plowing streets in one day, it would take city employees two.

Senor also said there would be more fuel use and "wear and tear" on vehicles if the street-clearing takes longer.

Also, he said, "they are going to have to come on another day on overtime, so now you just double the cost."

Senor said a better course of action would be to leave the law the way it is, requiring residents to get their parked vehicles off city streets until the snow emergency is lifted. The city also should step up enforcement and give $100 tickets to those who do not comply, he said.

Schupp said if residents move their vehicles fast enough, plows can quickly clear streets and not have to come back the next day.

"As people get used to it, we will go down one side, and they will see that is has been plowed and move their cars (to the other side) before the 24 hours is up," Schupp said.

Schupp said plowing becomes costly when motorists fail to get their vehicles off the street.